Yea, I knew elizabeth, that's very sad news. She must have been there a long time b/c i thought she got there around time time i did, early '93. We weren't close, but, speaking from what I sensed from her, MMS was maybe not the best place for her to get the help she needed as I spoke to her a few times after we had left.
Also, more than a few people know the details of her untimely passing as it was posted on myspace.com alumni forum.
and yea, they invited everyone to the reunion, i was invited so...nuff said there.
Anyway, never met u cotter, but glad to hear you are doing well.
Oh, one more thing, I wouldn't call MMS a prison either, but only b/c prisoners have more rights that we did- namely, due process. I never saw leaving MMS as truly a feasible option, esp because i was reminded constantly that it was the place I needed to be (despite the fact that i never received the help i needed). No bars is very convinient point, but when you fear leaving more than staying, no bars are necessary. That, of course, does not mean that you are free to leave. I wonder, how many you other girls felt you were free to leave MMS??
For me, I knew I needed help and, given the constant reminder that MMS was the last place that could offer me the help I so desperately needed and the guilt I felt over being such a bad (that is, depressed) kid along with the fear my parents and i would never have a good relationship, I followed the rules.